Lock-valve.



T. M. SWANK.

LOCK VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1909.

939, 1 O8. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. F1 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS JZZamaJJI. Biz/(0218 LOGIC VALVE.

APPBIGATTOIF PILBE FEB, 1L, 1909.7 939; Egg Patenfie' Km. 2, $99.

w. 2 SEEEFSHEBT 2:

' is spring-held to prevent moistu condensation of air reaching thefllocking THOMAS M. swank, or LOUISVILLE, xnn'rocxv.

Lock-VALVE. 7

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 11,1969. Serial No. 477,431.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. SWANK, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in the county of J efierson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Lock-Valve, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to lock valves es-.

pecially useful in connection with air-brake systems for railway trains and the like, and

relates moreparticularlyto a lock valve in which the plug is operable in the usual manner to open and close the valve, and which includes key-controllable locking mechanism for holding the valve plug in a position such that when the valve is open, the locking 7 mechanism is inoperativejto hold the valve lug against a movement to pen the valve, I om a closed position.

An objectof the invention isto provide a simple, durable and eflicient valve for use in connection with the train pipe of an vairbrake system, which has locking mechanism serving to prevent unauthorized and ,malicious tampering with the valve, which also prevents accidental closin of the valve when the same is open, which is easily operated,--and which will not cause unnecessary delay in certain operations such as in switching or coupling cars.

A' further object of the invention is to provide a valve having lockin mechanism controlling the valve plug, in w ich the lug re thorn mechanism to rust the same, and in which the valve plug is surrounded by a, bushing which itself is held against movement with the In to of tli e vilve.

[he invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more, fully described hereinafter: and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany, ing drawings forming a part of this specifipreventlthe accidental closing cation, in which similar charactersof ref-,

lease the locking mechan spective view of the tumbler of the lockin mechanism; and Fig. 6 is a similar view o the keeper of the locking mechanism which holds the valve plug against movement from an open to a closed position.

. Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be clearly understood that while the locking mechanism of the valve holds the same open so that no unauthorized'person can close valve toset the brakes of the train, the valve when in a closed position, can be opened without necessitating the use of a key to reism. Thus, there is no loss of time, for example, in coupling a car to a train alreadymade up. 'It will be understood that in this operation'it is neces saryto open the closed train line valve of V the last car in. eifec'ting the coupling. Under other circumstances, too,.there is no loss of timewhen it is necessary to open a closed valve. However, when the valve is open, no person not in possession of the proper key can operatethe valve to close it, unless the locking mechanism is opened by means of a skeleton key, or in some: other similar manner requiring the exercise of particular skill, and involving the expenditure of consider able time. In my valve,'the valve plug'is spring-held in a bushing which is. secured .against turning with the valve lug. The

valve plug is tapered, so that un er'the tensiono f' the spring it is held securely the bushing, and it is dilicult for moisture resulting fi'om the condensation of the air in the va 'anism to rust er otherwise in ure the same.

ve to penetrate to the locking mech- Furthermore, the locking mechanism is covered and is protected; from inj The cover also prevents accident to the valve, as

itis impossible forthe locking mechanism 7 struck and disarranged. 'On' several occasions it has happened t at to be accidentally the'bushing of a valve has turned with the valve plug, thereby rendering the valve inoperative and causing serious trouble. In my valve the bushing is rigidly held, to avoid such a possibility.

Referring more particularly to the drawmgs, I provide a valve body or casing 10, in

general, of any preferred or common form,

; aving opposite, threaded openin s 11 eaeh iOf which receives a coupling 12 y means ofwhich the valve is connected with a train pipe section 13. The valve body has a transverse, tapered opening 14 therethrough,

I in which is arranged a correspondingly formed bushing having openings or ports 16, so that the air can flow freely through the valve. The bushing is held against a rotary movement by a pin 51 extending diagonally through a suitable opening from the top of the valve body, to and into an opening of the bushing. At the under side of the valve is an annular extension 17 interiorly threaded to receive a retaining member 18 which holds the valve plug 19 in posi- '.tion. The retaining member has a squared the plug permits the air to or otherwise suitably formed head 20 so that itcan be manipulated by means of a suitable tool. The valve plug has a passage 21 therethrough which in a, certain osition of v ow freely through the valve, while in other positions of the plug, obstructs the ports or apertures 16 to closethevalve. The valve plug and I .the retaining member, at adjacent faces have spring seats or sockets 22 and 23 respectlvely, in which is positioned a spring 24 tendm normally to force the plug upward in the ushing and to insure a tightthough movable-engagement of the plug within the bushing. v a

At the upper part,'the valve casing has a flat seat 25, provided with an opening throu h which the upper end of the plug exte s. This end of the plug has a stem 26, of angular cross section and adapted to be received by a correspondingly formed opening 27, in the head 29 of an operating handle 28. The latter is of any suitable form and serves for the manipulation of the plug. As the opening 27' receives the stem 26 so that the latter is freely movable longitudinally of the opening, it permits the handle to be'removed from the valve, and allows the'parts to adjust themselves as the plug wears.

The top part 25 of the body has a depression 30, substantially of semi-cylindrical form and movably receiving a cylindrical tumbler 31. The depression 30, at one end,

has a lateral extension 32, which-normally.

. '-receives a projection or arm 33v of the tumform to with a keeper 38. The pint e is at right angles with the keeper and the latter is arranged to extend across the arm 33 of the tumbler, so thatit can. engage a stop 39, rlgid with the head 29 of thehandle, to lock the handle in a position such that the valve is open, The sto has an edge 40 beveled and adapted to sllde under a corresponding beveled edge 41 of the keeper to raise the latter to an inoperative position when the valve is being turned from a closed to an open position.

Upon the part 25 of the valve body is mounted a removable cover 42, held in place by means of bolts 43 or the like, and having a cut away part 53, which permits the handle 28 to swing freely. cesses 44 and .45, corresponding to the recesses 30 and 36, and likewise movably receiving the tumbler and the keeper .pmtle. The recess 44 also has an extension 45 forming with the key-hole part 34,-a key-hole 46 The cover has reinto which a suitable key can be insertedto v I operate the tumbler. The cover, furthermore, has an enlarged recess 47 which permits the keeper to 'move upwardly out of engagement with the stop 39 when the tumbler is operated by means of the key, so that the arm 33 forces the keeper into an inoperative position. A spring 48 engages a stud 49 of the keeper and has the upper end 10- cated in a recessed seat 50 of the cover, and

tends normally to hold the keeper de ressed.

I prefer to position a gasket 52, etween the top 25 of the valve body and the cover 42, to insure a tight fit of the parts.

It will-be understood that when the handle of the valve is in such a position that the valve is open, the stop 39 engages at the end of the keeper 'to prevent thehandle from being moved into a position such that the valve is closed. When it is desired to close.

the valve, a suitable key is inserted in the key-hole 46 and the tumbler is turned thereby, so that the arm is swung upwardly, carrying with'it, against the tension of the spring 48, the keeper 38. The stop 39 can then move under the'keeper, so

that the valve can be closed. When the key is released, the locking mechanism parts return to their original positions withthey stop 39 at a point indicated in dotted outlme on Fig. 3. The valve is now closed, and

it can be opened by merely swinging the ham dle into the open position, without the use of a key, for the stop can pass freely under the keeper, displacing the same to an inoperative position until the handle reaches an open position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A valve, comprising a valve body, an

operating member for the body, a keeper' for engaging the said member to lock the body in an open position, and a. key controlled means for o crating the keeper to permit the valve body to be moved into a closed position, the keeper bein moved into an inoperative position by e ,operatmg member when moving the body from a closed to an open position.

2. A valve, comprising a valve body, an operating handle for the body, having a projection, a keeper for engaging the projection of thehandle to lock the body in an open position, and key operated means for operating the kee r to permit the valve body to be moved into a. closed position, the keeper being moved into an inoperative position by the projectien of the handle when moving the valve-body from a closed to an open position.

3. A valve comprising a valve body, a handle for operating the body, having a projection, a keeper for engaging the projection of the handle to lock the valve body in an open position, and a key operated rocking tumbler for disengaging the keeper from the said projection.

4. In a valve, a valve plug having an open and a closed position,a pivoted keeper controlling said plug, and a, key-controllable rocking tumbler for operating said keeper,

said keeper being inoperative with respect to said plug when the latter is in a closed pos1tio l A 5. In a valve, a valve plug, a keeper, a stop (fontrolling said plug and adapted to engage said keeper to hold said plug in an open position, and a tumbler controlling said keeper and operable by means of a key, said stop displacing said keeper to an inoperative position when moving from one position to another corresponding respectively, to a closed and an open position of said plug.

6. In a valve, a valve plug having an open and a closed position, a stop movable with said plug, a keeper adapted to engage said stop to lock said plug in an open position, said stop and said keeper being adapted to engage inoperatively when said stop moves 7 from one position to another corresponding respectively, to a closed and an open position of said lug, a tumbler having an arm adapted to isplace said keeper Whensaid tumbler is operated, and a sprlng tending to hold said keeper in a normal, operative position, said tumbler being operable by means of a key. 7

7. In a valve, a valve casing, aplug in said casing and having, an open and a closed position, a handle controlling'said plug and having a stop, a pivotally movable keeper adapted to engage said stop to hold sa l plug in an open position, a rotatable tumbler having an arm under said keeper,whereby when said tumbler is rotated said keeper is displaced into an inoperative position with respect to said stop, said tumbler having a part adapted to be engaged by a key, a spring normally holding said keeper operative, and a cover on said casing and protecting said keeper and said tumbler, said casing and said cover having recesses movably receiving said keeper and said tumbler,

, said casing and said cover forming a keyhole receiving said constricted part of said tumbler. V

8. A valve, comprising a valve body, a member carried by the valve body, a keeper engaging the said member to lock the valve body in an open position, and a key controlled tumbler for operating the keeper to disengage it from thesaid member to permit the valve body to be moved into a closed position,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses THOMAS M. SWANK.

IVitnesses:

WALTER D. Mrrmnn, L. W- ONEIL. 

